Nexus between built environment, travel behaviour and human health: An integrated framework to reinform transport system

Transport systems play a significant role in socio-economic development and influence a city's human health (HH) status mediated through multiple pathways. It fosters the growth trajectory of a city by acting as its lifeline. However, many factors like a city's-built environment (BE), travel behaviour (TB), travel patterns and socioeconomic status of urban commuters influence the transport system. A vast amount of literature is available in silos that evaluates the relationship between any two components, especially in the context of developed countries. So far, the research community has not agreed on the underlying nexus between BE, TB, and human health (HH). Given this, the present study aims to (i) assess the relationship (both intensity and magnitude) between BE, TB and HH; (ii) summarise the statistical tools used to assess these relationships, (iii) critically analyse existing studies and develop a conceptual model of BE-TB-HH (BETH) nexus and (iv) conduct logical framework analysis to identify linkages between BETH nexus and sustainable development goals (SDGs). Study results suggest that the BETH nexus is multidimensional, complex and dynamic, which operates at different spatial scales and can help achieve a country's nationally determined commitments and SDGs. BETH nexus integrates management and governance across multiple sectors of urban planning, transportation, individual psychology, and human health. It corroborates the need not to view urban planning, transportation, human health, and human psychology as separate entities but as a complex and inextricably interlinked system framework that will help policy and decision-makers reinform the transport system.